Just realized that topping a mature oak is way worse than letting it die slowly

I read a study from the International Society of Arboriculture that said topping removes up to 50% of a tree's leaf-bearing crown and makes it decay from the inside out, so now I'm preaching crown reduction instead to any homeowner who asks about cutting height.

3 comments

3 Comments

riley_schmidt1mo ago

It's crazy how we think we're helping by doing the most damage.

the_avery1mo ago

Spent three years working in conservation in Montana and honestly @riley_schmidt this hits hard. Tbh we learned the hard way that stepping back and letting nature do its thing worked way better than our big intervention plans.

thomas_martinez1mo ago

Montana is a perfect example of that @the_avery. I used to be all about managing everything and fixing problems myself, but watching how the land bounces back when you leave it alone really opened my eyes.